PASTOR IN THE END TIME

Aims and objectives of the theme-: To sensitize every trained Pastor of the need of getting ready for the second coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

           

Among the basic doctrinal topics that every trained Pastor needed to have digested while in training are:-

Bibliology:- the doctrine of the Word of God;

Theology:- the doctrine of God,

Christology:- The doctrine of Christ

Pneumatology:- the doctrine of the Holy spirit;

Anthropology:- The doctrine of man;

Hamartiology:- The doctrine of sin

Soteriology-: The doctrine of salvation

Ecclesiology:- The doctrine of Church

Eschatology:- The doctrine of second coming           and

Angelology:- The doctrine of the Angels.

From all indications around us, the emphasis on End time which is part of second coming needed to be paramount domination of our messages today. We can not single handedly do it without reflections of Christ, Man, Sin, Salvation and the Church.

I. Challenges facing Pastors in discharging their responsibilities in the ministry.

1. Time Factor: - You will bear me witness today that members of the Church are so over consciousness about timing in our services. They will be the last person to arrive to the service and they will be the first person to go out. This is telling us that we are moving to the end time.
2. Technology: - The rate of devices in technology is very alarming. Any Pastor that does not have knowledge about the recent devices in technology may be termed to be old school. The message of this is that we need to be up and doing with the word of God burning in our mind tailored with some scientific terms.
3. Word of Youths: - Messages that can not attract the Youths of today will be like “water over faced down calabash” their language are enormous here for this type of presentation. Pastor need to carry them along while preparing his/her messages if he/she will not loose the youths of his/her congregation. 
4. Finance (Money) (Ecclesiastes 10:19) “A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything”. Nowadays members of our Churches get trapped into thinking money is the answer to every problem. We throw money at our problems instead of our faiths or believe. Scripture recognizes that money is necessary for human survival, but it warns against the love of money (Matthew 6:24; I Timothy 6:10; Hebrew 13:5). Pulse, and check how many of your Church members are running away from the Church on Sundays or on any big pronounced programme, just because of money? Yeh, and without money a dynamic Church can not progress smoothly.   
5. World that is dancing into the Church. World methodology has been creeping into the system of the Church now. Whereas Church is to be the light of the world. It became major problem and it challenges the authority of the Pastor when members will be advising him/her of what to do that are of the world. Adamant of Pastor, if care is not taking may lead to seeming crises in the Church.

II. Pastors’ Response to the End Time.

No problem without one solution or another. Yes, men and women who serve the people of God through the ministry of the Church need to be supported and upheld due to the challenges of ministry they face.

1. We must go back to God in prayer. Efficacy of prayer can not be over emphasized. No other weapon to seek the timely face of God at the end time than prayer.
2. The word of God – Bible. In (Joshua 1:6 – 8).

a.       Joshua must be strong and courageous because of the task ahead would not be

easy.

b.      Joshua must obey God’s law

c.       Joshua must constantly read and study the Book of the law – God’s Word ……

In our lives today, in end time, we must follow God’s words. You may not succeed by the world’s standards, and of course the world is not your employer, but you will be a success in God’s eyes and His opinion last forever.

3. Fellowship with other Believers- (Psalm 84:5 – 8; Hebrews 10:25; Proverb 27:7) “. Pastoral work can not be handled single handedly or done in unilaterally. In the book of (Acts 12: 1 – 11), when other Apostle were no where to be found, because all of them had run away for their dear life, the Church stood up to intervene and our Brother Peter was able to stay for some more years. That ought to be our weapon today. Pastor needs a Pastor.
4. Prepare Your Members. (John 14:1 – 4) these few verses are rich with the promises of Jesus Christ.

a.       We can look forward to eternal life because Jesus Christ has promised it to all who

            believes in Him.

b.      The details of eternity are unknown, we need not fear because Jesus is preparing for us and He will spend eternity along with us. He will never prepare a bad place for Himself and we, His followers.

We need to let our members know of this and emphasizing it from time to time.

5. We need to prepare ourselves also.

(I Corinthians 9: 24 – 27). Paul whom the Spirit of the Lord uses to write these major doctrinal teachings did not forget himself from being rapture. In order words, we must be very careful to practice what we are preaching. We must prepare ourselves also for the end time. Why? It is easy to tell others how to live and then not to take our own advice. This will not be our portion in Jesus’ name.

CONCLUSION

                  End time is near, how soon is soon depend upon God’s plan. However as from next month, we will be taking and examining other topics as relate to the Pastor, such as Church growth in the perilous time; Cross; inevitable instrument in the end time; Prayer time in the end time; e.t.c. Let us conclude it that, we shall not be carried away by end time activities and if our Lord Jesus appears, He will count us worthy in His presence. It shall be so in Jesus’ name.

Continually be remembering yourself with –

(Hebrews 12:1 – 3)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. Who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and loose heart.”